ASK TOM WHY.

Dear Tom, Did a tornado touch down in Elk Grove...

April 20, 2001|By Tom Skilling, chief meteorologist at WGN-TV.

Dear Tom,

Did a tornado touch down in Elk Grove Township in 1932 or 1933?

Jack Becque

Dear Jack,

A thorough search of Chicago area climatological records reveals no tornado touchdowns in Elk Grove Township in 1932 or 1933. However, an F2 tornado did strike close by in the small town of Plato Center, located about 25 miles west of the town of Elk Grove Village in northeast Kane County.

The twister struck around noon on April 30, 1933 leaving a damage path 100 yards wide and 2.5 miles long in its wake.

The high school in Plato Center was unroofed, several barns were destroyed and three people were injured.

The closest recorded tornado to the Elk Grove area struck early in the morning May 26, 1965, when an F2 tornado traveled from northwest of Wheaton to O'Hare Airport.

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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His weather forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN News at noon and 9 p.m.